London 2012 Olympics: top-end tickets to the Games available at face value as exchange opens

Some of the most sought after tickets to the London 2012 Olympics were
available at face value on the newly-opened ticket exchange as ticket
holders put their seats up for resale but users reported familliar problems
with the ticketing system.

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Once in a lifetime: Tom Daley advertising Olympic ticketsPhoto: LONDON 2012

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Closing ceremony tickets were available in the opening 30mins of the exchange openingPhoto: LONDON 2012

Tickets for the men's synchronised 10m platform final, certain to feature British Olympic poster boy Tom Daley, were surprisingly up for sale when the exchange opened on the official London 2012 ticket site, while a limited number of tickets to athletics and the closing ceremony were also available.

But there was no evidence of tickets to any of the massively oversubscribed events in smaller venues, such as track cycling.

People with tickets away from the Olympic Park had a chance to secure tickets to events at the Stratford venue as a large number of hockey and basketball tickets were available too.

The London 2012 organising committee (Locog) initially said they were expecting most ticket holders to pass them on to friends and family if they could no longer attend, but judging by the activity on the exchange in the opening 30 minutes there were a wide variety of tickets up for sale.

The exchange could prove invaluable to those who missed out on tickets on the previous sale periods last year but are still desperate to see the Games in person.

However, some users reported issues with actually completing a purchase on the site, echoing previous sale periods which were blighted by technology problems on the site, despite it being run by global ticketing giants Ticketmaster.

David Goddard contacted Telegraph Sport to complain about his inability to buy the tickets he wanted. "I have been trying for the past 30mins to buy tickets. I can select the session and quantity but they are never available once i go to reserving," he said.

"I'm really frustrated and am finding the site really hard work just like it was when first applying.

"I have been trying for opening and closing ceremony tickets and diving and equestrian, all of which it says are available. I have tried for all price ranges and quantities."

Locog said there was no issue with their ticket website, stressing that it was a "live system" and that because demand had been "steady", users could not guarantee they had tickets until they completed their purchases.

"There is certainly no issue with the system," said a Locog spokesman. "If someone selects a ticket and then cannot purchase them it would be because someone else has selected those tickets at the same time and it has processed quicker. That's how most ticket systems operate.

"It's exactly the same system we've always used. There's been tickets sold already and we know there's been tickets across quite a wide range of sports.

"We were never expecting a massive amount to go on because these are only tickets that people can't or don't want to use anymore. We have seen a steady stream going on the exchange. The demand is exactly in line with what we expected."

SUCCESS STORY: FAN SECURES OPENING CEREMONY TICKETS Amid stories of frustration with the ticketing system, was one slice of good news courtesy of Martin Whelton. He contacted Telegraph Sport to declare he had been lucky enough to get hold of opening ceremony tickets this morning.

"I managed to secure an opening ceremony ticket at the top price shortly after sales opened," he said. "To be honest, I am shell shocked at how easy it was as I'd I understood tickets were like goldust. I even rang up customer services at Locog to see if there had been some error half expecting it to have been some kind of mistake, but clearly not.

"Yes I have paid a crazy price, and some friends will thank I'm mad but they way I see is that it's worth it as the Olympics will only come to London once in my lifetime and you only live life once. I doubt I will be applying for any further events but that's the one to attend."

Those who bought tickets directly from Locog before today will be able to resell their tickets until February 3 and will receive the full face value of the tickets if a buyer is found.

Should ticket holders fail to offload them in this period, Locog have promised that there will be future exchange windows, when the demand could well be higher as Games excitement builds.

Tickets available for purchase during the resale period will be sold on a first come, first served basis to London 2012 ticket account holders.

Diving tickets were available for sale when the exchange opened

Locog chief executive Paul Deighton said: "We asked people to buy tickets more than a year out from the Games and mindful of that, we promised that we would create this system for people whose circumstances may have changed to enable them to resale their tickets legally and safely.

"I’m convinced that most people will want to hold on to their tickets, but we are pleased to offer this resale programme which will give those who wish to use it, an opportunity to securely sell their tickets to others who wish to go to the Games or purchase more tickets and help us to achieve our aim of having full venues"

Police have reminded users to only purchase tickets through official sources and stressed the importance of using Locog's website checker before completing a transaction.

Detective superintendent Nick Downing, head of the Metropolitan Police’s Operation Podium, said: “Locog’s resale platform is an ideal system that enables those who can no longer use their purchased tickets to sell them on to Games fans, while giving those fans the peace of mind in knowing that they are buying from genuine and authorised sellers"

Football and Paralympics tickets are on sale until Feb 6, 2012, while contingency tickets for other events will be made available for sale in the spring.

How do I sell my tickets? Ticket holders can log on to their account at tickets.london2012.com and nominate which tickets they wish to resell.

Do I get my money back straight away? Only if a buyer is found. Otherwise the tickets will be returned to your account and you will be able to put them up again in future exchange windows.

Am I allowed to give tickets to friends and family? Yes. Locog are relaxed about tickets being passed on this way.

How do I buy tickets through the exchange? Those without tickets are advised to log on to their accounts or register a new one and look for any spares. Tickets will be sold on a first come, first served basis. These tickets will only be available if put up for resale by another ticketholder.

I bought my tickets abroad. Can I sell them on the exchange? No. Consumers who bought their tickets overseas via Authorised Ticket Resellers should contact the vendor to discuss options.